CU Buffs crumble in devastating overtime loss to Oregon State

Buffs blow 31-3 lead to last place Beavers in front of homecoming crowd

By Brian Howell

BuffZone.com Writer

Posted:
10/27/2018 05:23:08 PM MDT

Oregon State 41, Colorado 34, OT

Play of the game: Oregon State quarterback Jack Colletto scored on a 1-yard run in the first overtime to give the Beavers their first lead of the afternoon.

Turning point: After CU took a 31-3 lead early in the third quarter, Oregon State went on a 17-play, 75-yard drive to score and pull within 31-10. The Beavers had momentum the rest of the way.

Top 3 Buffs of the game

1. WR KD Nixon: Although he had a potential touchdown slip through his hands in overtime, Nixon still finished with 13 catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns.

2. LB Nate Landman: Finished with 10 tackles, two sacks and four tackles for loss.

3. RB Travon McMillian: Had 132 yards and a touchdown — a 75-yard run — on 20 carries.

Bottom line

The worst loss of the Mike MacIntyre era has left the Buffs reeling at 5-3. The remaining schedule isn't easy, making bowl eligibility far from certain.

Mike MacIntyre has done quite a few postgame interviews over the years with steam coming out of his ears and fire from his voice after losses.

On Saturday, the Colorado head coach did his best to put a smile on his face and control his emotions, but there's no question this was the most disastrous loss of his six-year tenure in Boulder.

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Oregon State rolled into Folsom Field and stole a 41-34 victory in overtime, stunning the homecoming crowd of 48,050, many of which had left the building when the Buffs still had a sizeable lead.

"It was an extremely bad loss, no doubt about it," MacIntyre said. "One that we should have won."

And yet, they didn't.

The Buffs (5-3, 2-3 Pac-12) came in as 24-point favorites and held a 28-point lead in the second half. Surely, the dreadful Beavers (2-6, 1-4), who hadn't defeated an FBS foe in two years, would fold at that point.

Colorado quarterback Steven Montez hangs his head after the Buffs fell to Oregon State on Saturday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

Instead, it was the Buffs who crumbled.

"At one point we were up by a whole lot and it seemed as if we got too comfortable maybe and kind of gave it back to them," senior linebacker Drew Lewis.

Oregon State went on a 31-3 run to force overtime and then starting quarterback Jack Colletto — who was benched at halftime, but came in for the short-yardage play — scored on a 1-yard run in overtime to give the Beavers their only lead of the game.

CU had a chance to counter, but after Steven Montez connected with Jay MacIntyre for a 21-yard pass to get to the Oregon State 7-yard line, the Buffs didn't gain another yard. Montez's final three passes all fell incomplete, sparking a celebration from the Beavers.

"It was a great experience," OSU running back Jermar Jefferson said of the mood in the locker room after the game. "Something I've never experienced before."

That's because Oregon State doesn't usually win these games.

The Beavers came in riding a 22-game road losing streak, dating back to Oct. 4, 2014, at Folsom Field. They also had a 13-game losing streak in Pac-12 games.

Up 31-3 after a 75-yard touchdown run by Travon McMillian on the first play of the third quarter, Colorado was poised to keep those streaks going.

"We were rolling and I guess the wheels rolled right off," MacIntyre said.

The only other time in CU history it lost after holding a 28-point lead was on Nov. 6, 2010, at Kansas. Three days later, head coach Dan Hawkins was fired.

Oregon State receiver Isaiah Hodgins stretches out for a catch against Colorado defensive back Dante Wigley on Saturday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)

MacIntyre may not be fired after this one, but it was a more devastating loss to the CU program because of what was on the line.

Securing bowl eligibility with win No. 6 seemed to be a lock going into Saturday, and given the volatile nature of the Pac-12 South, a division title was very much in play.

Now, CU has the look of a team that may struggle to end their losing streak.

Losing at Southern California and Washington — a pair of traditional Pac-12 powers — is one thing. Losing to Oregon State — Oregon State! — at home is quite another.

"I imagine it's shook a little bit to be honest," MacIntyre said when asked about the confidence of his team.

CU battled past a slow start to take a 24-3 lead into halftime, thanks to Montez and KD Nixon connecting for two touchdowns and Dante Wigley returning an interception for a touchdown.

When McMillian sliced through the middle of the OSU defense for his 75-yard run, the rout was officially on.

From that point, though, the Buffs were outscored 38-3.

"I don't think they overlooked them," MacIntyre said of his players. "I think we got up and maybe we relaxed a second. I would say that's probably what happened. You try to crank it back up and couldn't crank it back up."

Oregon State switched quarterbacks at halftime, with senior Jake Luton — questionable with an ankle injury that sidelined him the previous four games — getting the call. He threw for 310 yards and three touchdowns in the second half.

Luton's final touchdown, a 10-yard strike to Trevon Bradford with 29 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, tied the game.

CU blocked the extra point, though, and drove down for a potential game-winning field goal, but Davis Price's 53-yard attempt was never close.

With momentum squarely on their side going into overtime, the Beavers took the lead and never let go.

"It's difficult to go from having momentum to losing it to try to get it back," Lewis said. "By the time you start realizing they're still in this, it's practically too late for us to try to make up for that. We have to stay on our toes. We can't get comfortable."

Nothing is comfortable about CU's situation now. Forget the Pac-12 South title. Even bowl eligibility is a question mark with four games to play.

"It is tough," Montez said. "It is a tough game and a tough situation that we're put in right now."

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